Comets Shootout: Star 16U Wings/Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Comets Shootout was a great event to see how some of Minnesota's best teams stack up against each other early in the season. Here were the top non-guards who stood out to me on Saturday and Sunday at the 16U level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1595734"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eJJ was incredible scoring the ball this weekend and it was fun to watch him be the main scoring option for a team. The sophomore played a key role for Hopkins this past year, helping them to a season that exceeded expectations. He mainly served as a catch-and-shoot player on the wing, but handled the ball a lot in the games I saw this weekend. JJ has the ability to knock down extremely tough shots from deep and is very creative with the ways he can create shots for himself off the dribble. He utilized a multitude of different step backs and side steps to gain separation from opponents. Semanko has good size for his position and has loads of potential as a prospect with his perimeter scoring. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf480"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1874906"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eKyree attacked the basket with no fear this past weekend. The freshman wing was very effective poking balls free and picking up steals on defense then converting them to offense on the other end. He has great speed when he has the ball in his hands with space in front of him, as he could outrun opponents on his way to the rim. He has the ability to finish with either hand at full speed and did not shy away from contact, sometimes from larger defenders. Nelson is a part of a solid young core that is being built at Cretin-Derham Hall and should be in for some varsity minutes next season as a sophomore. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf4e4"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2103373' first='Tommy' last='Rowland']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bloomington Jefferson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Academic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eI had gotten to see Tommy play in some varsity minutes as a sophomore at Jefferson, but he had a much expanded role this weekend. His game resembles a point forward, as he has great size for his handle and ability to push the ball up the floor. He impressed me with the way he can stay under control while playing at full speed and can stretch the floor as I saw him connect with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer as well. Tommy looked very aggressive attacking the basket and could use his size to finish through defenders or use finesse to avoid being blocked. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf587"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1437598"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAnother 2026 playing 16U this weekend, Dane showed off his very well balanced game with huge plays on both ends of the floor. He was confident creating shots for himself off the dribble, blowing by defenders and getting downhill with no issue. He has also had some scores with his back to the basket, utilizing a variety of post moves. The Lakeville North freshman can stretch the floor too, cashing in some attempts from beyond the arc off of passes from teammates. Danielson held down the paint at times as well, picking up some blocks and regularly altering opponents shots. You can tell that he has experience playing both forward and guard at points in his young career. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf5f4"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1476739"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eCaleb stood out to me with the level of physicality that he played with in the matchup I saw. The 6'6” sophomore was excellent on the boards, coming down with a number of contested rebounds through lots of traffic. He affected the game with paint presence defensively well, making it very difficult for opponents to get shots off when they were getting to the basket. Caleb also had some finishes through contact in their win versus Team FSA. Bancroft just finished up a productive season for Stewartville at the varsity level, helping them to a 2023 state tournament appearance. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf649"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1585946"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eOmar was one of the top rebounders I saw all weekend and was an elite paint presence in the game I watched. He stands at 6'7”, as he combines that with his innate ability to time rebounds as they come off the rim to put himself in the best position possible to get a board. The Blake sophomore also showed flashes of what he can do with the ball in his hands with his handle in transition situations. I saw him hit a turnaround post fadeaway as well. Kaba never looked rushed at any point of the game and never forced bad shots or passes. Omar is a high-IQ player who can make a difference in the paint for your team. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf69c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1874895"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIt felt like JC was everywhere on the floor when I watched him this weekend. He was capable of knocking down shots from the outside, connecting with a pair of catch-and-shoot threes in the corner in the games I saw. He also specialized in receiving an outlet pass from a teammate, then pushing the ball up the floor for a finish all by himself. The Tartan freshman also impacted the game defensively with several blocks and defensive rebounds to quickly get the ball up the floor. Green should be a player turning some heads this spring and summer going into his sophomore season. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643eab08bf6ed"} /-->